Wild Silverlake

Wild Silverlake: Wildlife Pond

Ecological design meets slick, contemporary innovation. Designed to be home to wildlife, the pond is over 2.5m x 1.5m and around 1.8m deep in places! Planted with mostly native, aquatic and marginal plants the pond itself is home to dragonfly larvae, frogs, newts and an abundance of aquatic insects. Millboard was chosen as a sustainable and less toxic alternative to decking as the the material is made from recycled plastic and does not require treating like conventional decking. (it's also naturally anti-slip) With help from landscaper; Sean Marren, the Milboard decking was constructed around the pond and acts as a great place to sit and wildlife watch!

Cyperus involucratus provides dramatic form at the wildlife pond.

Before:

After:

Before

Beautiful, Broad bodied chaser captured at Wild Silverlake

Zac befriended a beautiful Damselfly at the wildlife pond at Wild Silverlake

After

Brief:
​
The client wanted a large wildlife pond to attract frogs, dragonflies and other wildlife but also wanted something architectural and long-lasting. (Some of the other decking around the garden was constructed from timber and was rotting and becoming a hazard.) The client likes ecological design, loves wildlife but also enjoys exotic themed planting. The wildlife pond needed to satisfy these aims. 

Original concept ideas for the pond created in SketchUp

Plan view of the wildlife pond created in AutoCad

"We have known Zac for over a year during which time he has been employed by us as a gardener and 
landscape designer. Zac was highly recommended to us by another employer and we have similarly 
recommended him to others. More recently he has also worked collaboratively with us on other 
business ventures.  
During the time we have known him he has been unfailingly courteous, enthusiastic, motivated, 
creative and an excellent problem solver.  He has a strong focus on providing excellent customer 
service, and he is a clear communicator who quickly builds, and sustains,  positive relations with 
customers and contractors. He works diligently and to high standards, taking great pride in what he 
achieves. 
We consider ourselves fortunate to know Zac and would have no hesitation in recommending him for 
employment."
​
Dr Caroline Yates 

Gallery: